Venetian blind



Mal-ch23, 1937. E; J. MARTENS 2,074,482

VENETIAN BLIND Filed-Jan. 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

March 23, 1937. E. J. MARTENS VENET-IAN BLIND Fil ed Jan. 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IJMIlmlllllllfllllllllllm INVENTOR,

BY Mg,

Patented Mar. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,614,482 VENETIAN BLIND Ernest J. Martens, St. Louis, Mo. Application January 15, 1935, sci-n1 No. 1,866 1': Claims. (01. 156-17) This invention relates to window blinds of the collapsible type, commonly known as Venetian blinds, and in particular to the slats of a Venetian blind.

i The slots of a Venetian-blind are usually made of wood and are disposed between pairs of adjusting tapes and are maintained in proper relation therewith by tacks driven through the adjusting tapes into the edges of the slats or by resting the slats on thin, narrow spacing" tapes extending between the adjusting tapes, or by insertion of the slats into spacing loops extending between the adjustingtapes. In one form of Venetian blind the slats have'openings therein toward the ends thereof, through which are extended cords that are attached to a bottom member and which provide for progressively collapsing the blind from the bottom to the top and for maintaining the slats against endwise displacement. In another 30 form the collapsing cords or chains are disposed outwardly of the slat ends and the slats are main- I tained against endwise displacement by guide channels attached to the window casing. .The slats are usually left in natural wood finish with a transparent protective coating of shellac, varnish, or lacquer applied to the natural wood or are'stained or lacquered a desired color.

A Venetian blind is expensive of manufacture as compared with a conventional window shade, -and notwithstanding the desirability of Venetian blinds over the conventional window shade from the standpoints of light control and decorative features, the cost thereof has prevented their becoming universal of adoption. Also, Venetian 35 blinds are known dust collectors and the slats thereof are difllcult of cleansing by the average housekeeper. Also, once a home issequipped with Venetian blinds the cost thereof prevents frequent replacement of. them even when the slats 40 have become warped or marred and the tapes soiled and worn. Also Venetian blinds are not made in sufficient variety of color to lend readily to various color schemes in interior decoration.

I propose to overcome the foregoing objections 5 to the Venetian blind by providing a plurality of transparent slats for a Venetian blind, each of said slats having a space provided therein, and into which space fillers of paper or reinforced cloth having designs or finishes thereon in any 50 color combinations may be rer'novably inserted.

I also propose to provide closing means for the space in such a slat to prevent ingress of dust and smoke into the space therein and thus prevent the soiling of the filler. 5 I also propose to provide means whereby the average housekeeper can change the appearance of a Venetian blind at will to conform to any color scheme in, or plan of, interior decoration.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide in a Venetian blind transparent slats of bakelite, celluloid, regenerated cellulose 01'' other'suitable material, each of said slats having a space therein for removable insertion of a filler having a complete figure or design or a component part of a figure or design thereon.

Another object of my invention is to provide cap means for closing the space in such a slat in order to prevent-dust, smoke, water or other foreign substances entering into the space and soiling the filler.

Another object of my invention is to provide opaque backing and reinforcing means for flimsy materials in order that such materials may be readily inserted into the opening of such a slat and to prevent light from passing through the material.

Another object of my invention is to provide in such a slat, means for providing interiors and exteriors of the same or different designs, patterns or color.

Another object of my invention is to provide in such a slat a translucent filler through which sufficient light will pass to outline the design of. said filler.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method of producing fillers for such a slat, that can be carried out by the average housekeeper.

With these and other objects in view which will readily appearas the nature of the invention is better'understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. y

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being understood however, that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein shown, but'that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawin s:

Fig. 1 is a front view in elevation of. a window I frame and easing having mounted therein and in front of the window thereof one of the well-known forms of a Venetian blind having transparent slats with spaces therein, and in each of said spaces there is inserted a filler having thereon a component part of a large design.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken through 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and shows in detail one of the pairs of adjusting tapes and the spacing loops attachedthereto carrying my improved slats, the construction of the slats, and one of the collapsing cords of said blind extending through said slats.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front view of a Venetian blind having transparent slats with fillers made of materials having diversified colors and surfaces.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front view of a Venetian blind having transparent slats with fillers of patterned material and shows a complete flowered pattern in each slat.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the manner of mounting a reinforcing backing on the reverse side of a piece of flimsy material.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the slat and a filler therefor made of patterned material such as shown in Fig. 4 with a reinforcing backing and with portions of the slat and filler cut away to clearly show the relative positions of the parts thereof.

Fig. '7 is a'sectional view taken through 1-1 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows and shows in detail the slat, the space therein, the filler having a reinforcing backing and the cap member enclosing the space.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, In is a window frame and easing, within which is mounted and suspended by top board II, in the well known manner, a Venetian blind I 2. The conventional movable slat adjusting member I3, its operating lever I4, and collapsing cords I5 and I6, are well known and need no further description. While I have chosen to illustrate cords I5 and I6 mounted as in one of thewell known forms of Venetian blind, I do not limit myself to this particularform as collapsing cords I5 and I6 can be mounted outwardly the slat ends, as is well known in another form of blind. Pairs of front and back adjusting tapes I 1 and I8 and I9 and 20 (20 not shown) are also well known and need no further description. larged view Fig. 2 the pair of front and back tapes I1 and I8, spacing loops 2I, and blind collapsing cord I5 are shown in detail. It is to be understood that the description covering these members shall apply also to the pair of front and back tapes I9 and 20', spacing loops 22, and blind collapsing cord I6. Extending between front tape I1 and back tape I8 are spacing loops 2|. Loops 2| are attached to tapes I1 and I8 by sewing as at 23. Withdrawably inserted in loops 2| and 22 are slats 26, through which extend blind collapsing cords l5 and I6. While I have closen to show slats M'inserted in spacing loops 2|, it is to be understood that other well known means for spacing and supporting Venetian blind slats, may be used. A common means is the resting of the slat on a single tape, such as the lower run of my loop 2|, and relying on gravity to keep the slat in contact with the tape. This will serve equally vwell for my purpose. One of the slats 24 will now bedescribed.

Slat 24 is a thin transparent member of clear or colored-bakelite,-regenerated cellulose, celluloid or any other suitable material. While it is not imperative, I prefer to use a transparent material that is non-inflammable. Slat 24 is moulded from the desired material, machined from a solid sheet thereof or formed by folding a flat sheet thereof to the form best shown in In the en- Fig. 7 wherein 25 is a narrow slot extending throughout the length of slat 24, and 26 and 21 are walls thereof extending from the solid portion 28. At the top of slat 23 depressions 29 and 30 extending throughout the length of slat 24 are moulded or machined or pressed into the outside of walls 26 and 21 thereof for receiving and retaining a cap member 3!. Cap member 3| is preferably made from spring metal although it may be made of the same material as slat 24 when transparency is desired, or it may be made of any other suitable material. Cap member 3!. is moulded, rolled or machined from a tube to provide a slot opening 32 extending throughout the length thereof. Slot opening 32 is of proper dimension to provide a tight fit when slidably mounted in depressions 29 and 30 of slat 25 in order to prevent endwise displacement of said cap member or the entry of dust or smoke into the slot 25. Through slat 24, slots 33 and 3 3 are provided through which collapsing cords I5 and I6 extend in the well known manner for the form of Venetian blind illustrated. Slots 33 and 3e are moulded or machined to the form of a strip of patterned fabric having a reinforc- 1 ing backing 31. The reinforcing backing 31 is provided to give sufficient rigidity to soft and flimsy fabric that it may be inserted into the slot 25. Obviously when a stiff paper is selected for a filler, reinforcing backing 31 is unnecessary.

My method of producing a filler such as 35, is now described. Referring to Fig. 5, 38 is any suitable fabric material such as chintz, watered silk, grosgrain, cretonne or percale, in the piece. The fabric material 38 is placed right side down on a smooth surface and all waves and irregularities smoothed out. A plurality of tapes 31 of paper, stiff fabric or other suitable material in any desired color are 'then adhesively mounted closely adjacent to each other on the wrong side of the fabric material. If desired, the tapes may be spaced apart to back any desired portion of. the material, and thus provide uniform repetitive patterns as shown in Fig. 4. While any tape and adhesive or adhesive tape may be used, I prefer to employ the well known Scotch tape (a trade name) for reinforcing and backing purposes. As this tape requires no moisture for adhesion the possibility of injuring delicate fabrics is eliminated. After the tapes 31 are mounted as aforesaid, the fabric is out between the tapes by any well known means. When the tapes are spaced apart, a cut out of the material is made by cutting along the edges of the adjacent tapes. I have found that a keen edged knife blade or discarded safety razor blade give satisfactory results, when cutting between the tapes or making a cut out between adjacent tapes. The. fillers 35 thus produced are inserted into the slots 25 of transparent slats 24 in the order in which they are removed from the in the piece material 38. After the fillers 35 are inserted in the slots 25 of slats 24, cap members 3I are slid along the tops of slatsz l with the edges of slot openings 32 engaged in depressions 29 and 30 of slat walls 26 and 21. Cap member 3| serves to press walls 26 and 21 toward each other and in firm engagementwith filler 35. The undesired portions of filler 35 are then removed from slots 33 and 34 in any well known manner. I have found that a keen knife blade inserted in slots 33 and 34 and moved around the slots and in tight engagement with the walls thereof gives approximately a shear cut, and provides edges to the cut out portions of filler 35 that are clean and unfrayed. Obviously in the slats of a Venetian blind having collapsing cords or chains mounted outside the slat ends, slots 33 and 34 are not required and the aforesaid procedure with respect to slots 33 and 34 is omitted. The slats 24 are then'inserted, in spacing loops 2| and 22 in proper order and ccllapsing cords l5 and 5 introduced through slots 33 and 34 of the slats and attached to the bottom member of the blind in the well known manner.

While I prefer to remove slats 24 from loops 2| in order to remove orinsert fillers 35 in slots 25, this is not imperative as the fillers 35 may be removed and inserted in slots 25 of slats 24, in situ. To remove full length fillers 35 from slots 25 without removal of slats 24 from the form of Venetian blind illustrated, the cap members 3| are withdrawn from the slats 24 and the fillers arewithdrawn from the slots 25 by cutting the material through openings 33 and 34 to permit withdrawal past cords l5 and I6. When inserting a new filler 35, I cut the fillers 35 into three lengths, two'of which extend from the centers of openings 33 and 34 outwardly to the slat ends and the other length extending from center to center between openings 33 and 34. These are inserted in the usual manner and the cap members 3| are replaced to cover the slat openings 25. Obviously in the forms of Venetian blind not having slats with slots 33 and 34, the foregoing procedure of cutting the material into three lengths is omitted. Also if desired I can provide an opening extending from edges of slots 33 and 34 to the edge of slat 24 under cap member 3| and thusprovide openings which will permit the removal of slats 24 without removal of cords l5 and I5.

When cap 3| is of metal or other opaque material, it is only necessary to employ a width of filler 35 that will extend from the bottom of slot 25 to slightly within the lower edge of cap member 3|, as cap member 3| covers transparent portion 28 of the next adjacent slot 25 when the blind is closed. When cap member 3| is of transparent material, it is desirable to entirely fill the slot 25 with filler 35, as shown, and when so filled, the filler 35 covers portion 28 of the next adjacent slat 24 when the blind is closed and gives the effect of a continuous design or color.

As before set forth, filler 35 may be of any desired color, pattern or finish. In Fig. 3 each slat 24 is shown with a fabric of different surface finish to illustrate variety. Obviously each slat 24 could be of any of the finishes. Fig. 4, as before set forth, shows flowered patterned material of a design which permits each individual slat 24 to have the same appearance in flowered pattern. Still another and highly desirable result is shown in Fig. 1 in which each slat-24 carries a component part of a single large complete design or pattern. It is obvious from my disclosure that any size of design or pattern may be transposed from the in the piece goods to the slats of a Venetian blind.

As before pointed out, the fillers 35 may be of stiff paper or other material than fabric, in which case no reinforcing backing 31 is necessary. Also I desire to point out that paper or fabric materials having two-side patterns or finishes may be used to give interiors or exteriors to the slats 24 'of the same or different characters and appearance.

- Also Ican place two fillers 35 in each slat opentersor colors.

exterior appearance of any desired character to the slats 24 and by choice of materials and rein-- forcing backing for fillers 35, I can provide either a translucent or an opaque Venetian blind.

As before pointed out, slats 24 may be of clear transparent material or of any transparent colored material. Through the use of slats 24 in various tints and tapes I8, l9, and 20, and loops 2| and 22, in colors and fillers 35 in patterns, an unlimited variety of pleasing combinations in color and of high decorative value are available. Also cap 3| serves to sharply define the top of each slat 24 and as shown in Fig. 1 gives the appearance when the blind is closed of viewing abeautiful flower through the open slats of a Venetian blind.

From the foregoing, it will appear that I have provided in a Venetian blind, transparent slots of clear or colored material having slots therein and in which slots fillers having any desired pat- It will also appear that I have provided a Venetian blind with slats having fillers which may be replaced within the slats in situ.

It will also appear that I have provided a slat which will not sag or warp and thatmay be easily cleaned by the average housewife and that it is washable and has no painted, varnished or lacquered surface requiring periodic renewal.

It-will be obvious to those skilled in the art that-I have provided an improved slat which may be interchanged with' the slats now in use in Venetian blinds of the type having collapsing cords extending through the slats thereof or of the type having collapsing cords mounted outside the slat ends. It will also-appear that I have provided opaque reinforcing backing means for flimsy fabrics which will permit insertion of such fabrics in the slat spaces arid will prevent light from passing through the material.

It will also appear that I have provided a translucent filler for such a slat which will per mit sufficient light to pass therethrough to cause a design or pattern thereon to become visible.

Also it will appear that I have provided for changeable exterior or interior'appearances in a Venetian blind of the same or different characthat I have provided a method of producing fillers having reinforcing backing, which method may be carried out by the averagehousekeeper.

Having thus described my invention and pointed out the features which are new, what I claim is: 1

1. A blind slat mem r carrying a design distributed thereover, said slat member being generally transparent and having means associated therewith intercepting and controlling the passage of light therethrough, and said means including a component part of said design.

It will also appear 2. A blind slat having a slot therein extending longitudinally thereof and a filler in said slot.

3. A blind slat of material pervious to light having associated therewith means for interin extending longitudinally thereof and a plurality of filler members inserted in said slot.

6. A transparent blind slat having a slot therein extending longitudinally thereof and a filler of opaque material inserted in said slot.

7. A transparent blind slat having a slot there- .in extending longitudinally thereof and a filler of translucent material inserted in said slot.

8. A blind slat having a slot therein extending longitudinally throughout the length thereof and means for effecting a closure for the open edge of said slot.

9. A blind slat of transparent material having a slot therein extending longitudinally thereof to provide front and back walls therefor, a filler inserted in said slot, said filler presenting dissimilar appearances through said front and back walls of said slat. I g

10. A blind slat of material pervious to light, a slot in saidslat extending longitudinally thereof to provide walls therefor, a plurality of openings through the walls of said slat, removable closure means for said slot extending longitudinally of said slat and a filler in said slot having a plurality of openings therethrough coinciding with the openings through the walls of said slat.

11. A blind slat of material pervious to light, a slot in said slat extending longitudinally there- 40 of to provide walls therefor, a plurality of openings through the walls of said slat, removable cap means for said slot extending longitudinally of said slat and a filler in said slot having a plurality of openings therethrough coinciding with 45 the openings through the walls of said slat, said 'filler comprising a fabric having reinforcing backing attached thereto.

12. The method of producing reinforced fillers for insertion into openings of blind slats which consists in adhesively attaching a plurality of strips of reinforcing backing material to a sheet of filler material and closely adjacent to each other and then cutting the filler material betweenthe adjacent strips of reinforcing material.

13. The method of producing reinforced fillers for insertion into openings of blind slats which consists in adhesively attaching a plurality of strips of reinforcing backing material to a sheet of filler material and spaced apart from each other and then cutting the filler material at the edges of the spaced apart strips to cut out the excess material between the spaced apart strips.

14. The method of P oducing reinforced fillers for insertion into openings of blind slats which consists in adhesively attaching a plurality of strips of reinforcing backing material to a sheet of filler material carrying a design and closely adjacent to each other and then cutting the filler material between the adjacent strips of reinforcing material to form fillers carrying component parts pf said design.

15. A blind slat member of generally transparent material having associated therewith means for intercepting and controlling the passage of light therethrough, said means including a design of varied density and said design forming obstruction of varied effectiveness to passage of light through said slat member.

16. A blind slat member of material pervious to light having associated therewith means for intercepting and controlling the passage of light therethrough, said means including a designof varied density and said design forming obstruction of varied effectiveness to passage of light through said slat member.

17. A blind slat member of generally transparent material having a slot therein extending longitudinally thereof to provide front and back walls therefor, a filler member inserted in said slot for intercepting and controlling the passage of light through said slat member, said filler member carrying a design of varied density and said design forming obstruction of varied effectiveness to passage of light through said slat member.

' ERNEST J. MARTENS. 

